Circuit selector switch



Feb- 21, 1950 w. c, TREGONING CIRCUIT SELECTOR SWITCH Filed May 27, 1947 A r u Patented Feb. 21,v 1950 CIRCUIT SELECTOR SWITCH William C. Tregoning, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Clark Controller Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 27, 1947, Serial No. 750,666

16 Claims.

This invention relates to control-circuit electric .switches of the selector class.

In various arts, of which the industrial motor control art is a pertinent example, the controls oi the motor may comprise a number of magnetic contactors, the windings of which are in a control system; and one part of the control system may be utilized to actuate certain ones of the contactors when the motor performs one function, and a different part of the system may be utilized to actuate different ones lof the contactors when the motor is to perform a different function.

It is desirable therefore to be able to select, or change over from one part of the control system to another part; or to cut off the entire control system; and this may be done by a manually operable selector switch; and such a switch constitutes the subject matter hereof.

In general, the selector switch comprises a housing or main base, adapted to be mounted upon the back side of a supporting panel, preferably of sheet metal; and having two Sets of stationary contacts on opposite sides of movable contacts reciprocable therebetween.

There is a handle or thumb-and-nger grip on the front of the panel which may be rotated in alternate directions through a limited total angle, for example 120; and this rotary motion is transmitted to the reciprocatory movable contacts by a cam arrangement.

The parts of the device, particularly the cam arrangement, are shiftable for two different modes of operation. For one mode, the rotaryv open. For the other mode of operation, the rotary handle has only two stopped positions and in one position, one set of contacts is closed and the other set opened; and in the other position, the

one set of contacts is opened and the other set closed.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a selector switch of the class referred to above, which may, with one set of Darts,

be operated as a three position type of selective Contact control or as a two position type.

Another object is to provide, generally, a selector switch having an improved construction and improved mode oi operation.

Another object is to provide, in an electric switch, improved means for reciprocatively mov- 55 ing, movable switch contacts, by rotary handle movement.

Another object is to provide a switch housing for being mounted on a supporting panel in different rotated positions, to dispose its connection terminals in corresponding diiierent positions; and provided with a rotary switch operating handle having predetermined operative positions when the housing is in one rotated position, and provided with means to dispose the handle in the same operative positions for other rotated positions of the housing.

Another obj ect is to provide improved means for mounting a switch housing on a supporting panel in different rotative positions thereon and for predetermining said positions selectively.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a switch embodying the invention; and a fragment of a supporting panel;

Fig. 2 is an elevational View of the switch of Fig. 1 taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, from the plane 3-3 o Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view from the plane 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view from the plane 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a cam element of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of the cam element of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a development into a plane of the cam surface of the cam of Figs. 6 and 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a cam follower of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a View looking upwardly into a hollow manually rotatable element of Fig. 3 without a cam follower assembled therewith in Fig. 3;

Figs. 1l and 12 are views similar to Fig. 10 but with the cam follower assembled therewith in two alternative positions respectively;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view to enlarged scale from the plane I3 of Fig. l with parts omitted.

Referring to the drawing, Figs. 1 to 5, there is shown at l a switch housing comprising an upper part 2 and a lower part 3 of molded insulating material, secured together as a unit in any suitable manner by bolts or the like not shown.

The housing I has a lower lateral projection 4 upon which are secured spaced terminals 5 6 (by screws indicated at 1 1, Fig. 4) and carrying stationary lower contacts 8 9. On the opposite side of the housing is a like projection 4A (Fig. 4) supporting like terminals Il l2 carrying contacts not shown but like the contacts 8 9.

The housing also has upper projections I3 l3A supporting terminals I4 l5 and I6 l1, each carrying upper contacts such as those shown at |8 |9 for the terminals |4 l5.

There are thus two lower and two upper contacts on each side of the housing.

A switch bar Z of insulating material has loosely mounted on its opposite ends, bridging bars 2 I 22. The bridging bar 2l has upper contacts 23-24 and lower contacts 25 26; and the bridging bar 22 has similar upper and lower contacts, the upper contacts only, 21 28, being shown (Fig. 4). ABy this means when the switch bar 2U is moved to an upper position (as will be described), circuits connected to the terminals Irl-I and l6 l1 respectively are closed; and when moved downwardly, circuits connected to the terminals 5 6 and H l2 respectively are closed; and when it is in the mid-position illustrated all of these circuits are open.

The switch lbar is mounted on a plunger 29 of molded insulating material, and associated parts as,v follows. The plunger 29 in its lower part is of generally circular section, with keys 35 30 on lits opposite sides, and reciprocates in a bore 3| in the upper housing part 2, the bore having keyways meshed with the keys to prevent the plunger from turning in the bore; and the plunger has a recess 32 in its lower end.

A metal shank 33, of square section is fixed at one end in the plunger 29 and projects downwardly through the recess 32 and loosely through a square hole in the switch bar 20, and the latter is thereby held against rotation to keep its supported contacts aligned with the stationary contacts as aforesaid. Below the switch bar the shank 33 has a threaded reduced diameter portion 34 threaded tightly into a molded guide '35 which reciprocates in a -bore 36 in the lower housing part 3.

A coiled spring 31 surrounds the shank and abuts at opposite ends upon the bottom of the recess 32 and upon the switch bar 2i); space being left between the top of the switch bar and the lower end of the plunger as shown.

At its upper portion, the plunger 29 has an enlarged head 38 integral therewith, in the form of a cup, having a cam-surface 33 on the upper end of the cup side wall, to be more fully described.

, A spring 40 surrounding the plunger 29 abuts at one end upon the top of the housing I or upon a washer 4I thereon, and at its upper end abuts upon the bottom of the cam cup 38, and holds the plunger upwardly and the cam surface 39 in engagement with a cam follower presently described.

A molded-insulation handle or thumb-andnger-grip 42 has depending therefrom, a central cylinder 43 in which is mounted a cam follower proper `44. Surrounding the cylinder 43 and cam follower 44 and cam 38 is a tubular extension 45, the lower end of the extension 45 terminating shortof the washer 4l., and having an external annular shoulder 46.

,A die cast metal head 41 of generally tubular form surrounds the extension 45, and at its lower end has enlarged feet 48-49, disposed in recesses 5(1 50 in the top of the housing I, and headed bolts 52 53 extend upwardly through the housing and are screwed into the feet to rigidly mount the head 41 on the housing. The tubular upper part of the head 41 has an internal annular head 54 thereon, against which the shoulder 46 of the extension 45 abuts.

A clamping ring 55 has a tubular threaded shank 5S threaded in the inside of the tubular head; and a nut 51 is threaded on the outside thereof; and a metal panel 58 may thereby be clamped between the ring 55 and nut 51 to mount the entire device on the panel. Preferably a washer 59 is placed between the ring and nut and clamped in position thereby; and may have a tab or apron 60 thereon (Fig. l) for bearing an indicating legend.

The spring 40 tends to hold the plunger outwardly; and causes the cam surface 39 of the cam cup 38 to react on the cam follower 44 carried by the tubular extension 45; and the external annular shoulder 46 of the extension is thereby at all times held outwardly against the stationary annular bead 54, to predetermine a position therefor and for the cam surface 39; and rotation ofthe extension 45 by the handle 42 acting through the cam follower 44 and cam surface 39, as will be described, reciprocates the plunger 29 downwardly against the force of the spring 44 or allows it to be moved upwardly by the spring, to operate the contacts as aforesaid.

The cam and cam follower will now be described.

The camjsurface 33 on the upper edge of the cam cup 38 is shown in Figs. 6 and '1 and developed into a plane in Fig. 8.

The cam follower proper 44 is the lower edge of a U-shaped sheet metal piece 6I shown separately in Fig. 9.

The cylinder 43 hasr two deep recesses, 62 and 53, ninety degrees apart in its end (see Fig. l0) for receiving one leg E4, of the U-shaped piece El, and corresponding shallow recesses 55 and 66 for receiving the closed end 61 of the U. Figs. 3 and 11 show the` U-shaped piece 6l in the recesses 52 and E5. The lower edge 44 is thus held against shifting or rocking and constrained to be rotated with the cylinder 43 by the handle 42 and react as a cam follower on the cam surface 39, being held against axially shifting outwardly by the engaged annular shoulders 46 and 54; and the cam surface 33 being at all times yieldably held against the follower by the spring 45, all as aforesaid.

The circular cam surface 39 comprises an inclined portion 68 having a middle notch 69 and end notches 13 and 1|.; and a diametrically opposite inclined portion 12, having only end notches 13 and 14.

In Figs. l, 2, and 3, the parts are illustrated as with the cam follower 44 in the middle notch 69, and with the switch bar 2l! in the middle position with the contacts all open; and with the handle 42 (see Fig. l) in a verticalv position.

Upon rotating the handle 42 counterclockwise, the cam follower 44 working on the inclined cam portion 58, will move to and be stopped in the notchV 1l; and on rotation in the other direction will move to and be stopped in the notch 15; and accordingly will cause the switch bar 23 to be moved upwardly and downwardly respectively to operate the contacts as described; the handle 42 moving back and forth through an angle of sixty degrees on each sideof a vertical center line 15, and having three definite switching positions.

A colored spot I6 on the top of the handle indicates that the switch is a three position switch.

If now, the handle 42 and its attached cam follower i be removed as a unit from the structure by disassembly and rotated 189 and reassembled, the cam follower will be working on the inclined cam portion l2; and will only stop in the end notches I3 and "i4, and the switch bar 20 can have only its lower and upper positions. The handle 42 will still be thrown through the angle of sixty degrees on each side of the vertical center line I5, but the spot IG will be at the lower end to indicate that the switch is two position switch.

The foregoing mode of operation contemplates that the panel 58 is vertical and that the switch housing l will be in the position illustrated, and therefore with the terminals I4, i5, etc., at the sides of the housing for lateral horizontal connection 'to control circuits. In some cases, however, it will be desirable or necessary to mount the housing l in a position with the said terminals above and below it for top and bottom or vertical connections, that is, rotated ninety degrees from its illustrated position.

This would bring the center line 'l5 of the handle 42 in a horizontal position instead of vertical, and where a number of switches of like structure are used on the same panel as often occurs,

f the handles 42 thereof would have different relating operative positions, and this would present a confusing appearance and lead to confusion in operation.

To overcome this disadvantage, which is present in prior switches of this class generally, the handle 42 and cam followerl 6I are removed by disassembly; the cam follower 6l is withdrawn from its recesses 62 and B5 (being held therein only by friction) and rotated ninety degrees and replaced in the recesses 53 and 66 as described; and reassembled. This compensates for rotating the housing through ninety degrees as aforesaid, and the positions of the handle 42 and the indications by the spot I6 will therefore be the same for both horizontal and vertical connections to the terminals.

Means is provided to insure that the switch housing i will take up its said vertical or horizontal positions on the panel, predeterminedly, to insure that the centerline 'l5 for the handle will always be vertical; and also to insure that the legend apron 5l? will likewise have predetermined positions. To this end, and as shown in Fig. 13, the apron Gil is provided with a short projection Il and a long projection I8 on its under side and the panel 58 is provided with holes to receive them. The upper end of the threaded tubular part of the die cast head, 47, has notches 80-89 therein ninety degrees apart. The projection 11 extends into but not through the hole 19. The projection 18 is long enough to extend through the hole 19A and into a selected one of these notches Sil-80. The projection l? and hole 19 thus always predetermine the rotated position of the apron S0 on the panel (or a plurality of aprons when several switches are on the same panel) so that it will be right side up with respect to the legend it bears. This fixes a position on the panel for the projection 18. rIhe housing l and its attached head 41, are rotated on the panel to dispose one of the notches 80-83 in position to embrace the fixed projection 18, which positions the housing accurately either horizontally or vertically as aforesaid.

The invention is not limited to the exact details of construction illustrated and described; but is comprehensive of all changes and modications thereof which come within the scope 0f the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a selector type switch, a switch housing supporting'spaced stationary contacts; movable contacts reciprocable therebetween; a reciprocable plunger supporting the movable contacts; guide means on the housing and plunger te restrain the plunger from rotating; a cup form, outwardly open cam on the outer end of the plunger having a cam surface on the outer edge of the cup; a rotatable switch handle connected to a downwardly open cup form extension, having a tubular wall surrounding the cam; a cam follower inside the cup form extension and on its bottom, engaging the cam surface; a tubular guide on the switch housing and telescoped with the extension tubular wall; a spring reacting on the housing and reacting axially outwardly on the plunger and cam, and yieldably holding the cam surface against the cam follower; mutually engaged shoulders on the tubular guide and on the tubular wall, allowing rotation of the cup form extension and cam follower by the handle, and preventing axially outward movement thereof by the spring effected engagement of the cam surface with the cam follower.

2. In a selector type switch, a switch housing supporting spaced stationary contacts; movable contacts reciprocable therebetween; a reciprocable plunger supporting the movable contacts; guide means on the housing and plunger to restrain the plunger from rotating; a cup form, outwardly open cam on the outer end of the plunger having a cam surface on the outer edge of the cup; a rotatable switch handle connected to a downwardly open cup from extension, having a tubular wall surrounding the cam; a cam follower inside the cup form extension and on its bottom, engaging the cam surface; a tubular guide on the switch housing and telescoped with the extension tubular wall; a spring reaction on the housing and reacting axially outwardly on the plunger and cam, and yieldably holding the cam surface against the cam follower; mutually engaged shoulders on the tubular guide and on the tubular wall, allowing rotation of the cup form extension and cam follower by the handle, and preventing axially outward movement thereof by the spring effected engagement of the cam surface with the cam follower; the cam surfacehaving an inclined portion, provided with an intermediate retaining stop and two end retaining stops thereon for the cam follower; the handle having an intermediate rotated and retained position and two opposite extreme rotated and retained positions, corresponding respectively to and determined by the said cam surface stops; and the plunger being reciprocable by the cam follower and cam to dispose and maintain the movable contacts intermediately of the stationary contacts when the handle is in the intermediate position, and to dispose and maintain them in engagement with the respective stationary contacts when the handle is in the respective opposite extreme positions.

3. In a selector type switch, a switch housing supporting spaced stationary contacts; movable contacts reciprocable therebetween; a reciprocable plunger supporting the movable contacts; guide means on the housing and plunger to restrain the plunger from rotating; a cup form,

outwardly open cam on the outer end of the plunger having a cam surface on the outer edge of the cup; a rotatable switch handle connected to a downwardly open cup form extension, having a tubular wall surrounding the cam; a cam follower inside the cup form extension and on its bottom, engaging the camk surface; a tubular guide on the switch housing and telescoped with the extension tubular wall; a spring reacting on the housing and reacting axially outwardly on the plunger and cam, and yieldably holding the cam surface against thev cam follower; mutually engaged shoulders on the tubular guide and on the tubular wall, allowing rotation of the cup form vextension and cam follower by the handle, and preventing axially outward movement thereof by the spring effected engagement of the cam surface with the cam follower; the cam surface having an inclined portion, provided with an intermediate retaining stop and two end retaining stops thereon for the cam follower; the handle having an intermediate rotated and retained position and two opposite extreme rotated and retained positions, corresponding respectively-to and determined by the said cam surface stops; and the plunger being reciprocable by the cam follower and cam to dispose and maintain the movable contacts intermediatelyrof the.y stationary contacts when the handle is in the intermediate position, and to dispose and maintain them in engagement with the respective stationary contacts when the handle is in the respective opposite extreme positions; the cam surface having also a second inclined portion, provided with two second cam follower retaining stops at its ends only; and the said shoulder engagement of the tubular guide and tubular wall being detachable and again attachable; and while detached the cup form extension and cam follower being rotatable to engage the cam follower with the said second inclined portion; and when again attached, the handle having only two rotated and retained extreme positions corresponding respectively to and determined by the said two second cam surface retaining stops and having no intermediate stopped position; and the plunger then being reciprocable by the cam follower and cam, only to dispose and maintain the movable contacts in engagement with the respective stationary contacts when the handle is turned to the respective extreme positions.

4. In a selector type switch, a switch housing supporting spaced stationary contacts; movable contacts reciprocable therebetween; a reciprocable plunger supporting the movable contacts; guide means on the housing and plunger to restrain the plunger from rotating; a cupform, outwardly open cam on the outer end of the plunger having a cam surface on the outer edge of the cup; a rotatable switch handle connected to a downwardly open cup form extension, having a tubular wall surrounding the cam; a cam follower inside the cup form extension and on its bottom, engaging the cam surface; a tubular guide on the switch housing and telescoped with the extension tubular wall; a spring reacting on the housing and reacting axially outwardly on the plunger and cam, andv yiel'dably holding the cam surface against the cam follower; mutually engaged shoulders on the tubular guide and on the tubularwall, allowing rotation of the cup form extension and cam follower by the handle, and preventing axially outward movement thereof by the spring effected engagement of the cam surface with the cam follower; the

cam surface having an inclined portion provided with two end retaining stops thereon for the cam follower; the handle having only two rotated and retained opposite extreme positions corresponding respectively to and determined by the said two cam surface stops; and the plunger being reciprocable by the cam follower and cam to dispose and maintain the movable contacts in engagement with the respective stationary contacts when the handle is turned to the respective extreme positions.

5. In a selector switch, a switch housing supporting spaced apart pairs of stationary contacts, and movable bridging contacts therebetween; a handle rotatable back and forth with a range of movement, between two eXtreme positions and through an intermediate position; a cam follower connected to the handle and rotatable therewith; a cam connected to the movable bridging contacts; the cam having a circular cam surface engaged by the cam follower; means to restrain the cam against rotary movement; spring means to hold the cam in engagement with the cam follower, and yieldable to permit axial movement of the cam to reciprocate the movable contacts connected thereto; means to restrain the cam follower from being moved axially by the force of the spring; the cam surface formed to reciprocate the bridging contacts to a position in engagement with one pair of stationary contacts, and into an intermediate non-bridging position, and into a position in engagement with the other pair of stationary contacts, upon rotation of the handle through said range of movement, and the cam surface formed to retain the bridging contacts in either of said three positions selectively upon releasing the handle at said positions.

6. In la selector switch, a switch housing supporting spaced apart, pairs of stationary contacts, and movable bridging contacts therebetween; a handle rotatable back and forth with a range of movement, between two extreme positions and through an intermediate position; a cam follower connected to the handle and rotatable therewith; a cam connected to the movable bridging contacts; the cani having a circular cam surface engaged by the cam follower; means to restrain the cam against rotary movement; spring means to hold the cam in engagement with the cam follower; and yieldable to permit axial movement of the cam to reciprocate the movable contacts connected thereto; means to restrain the cam follower from being moved axially by the force of the spring; the cam surface having a first portion formed to reciprocate the bridging contacts to a position in engagement with one pair of stationary contacts, and into an intermediate nonbrdging position, and into a positionin engagement with the other pair of stationary contacts, upon rotation of the handle through said range of movement, and to retain the bridging contacts in said positions selectively upon releasing the handle at said positions; the cam surface having also a second portion formed to reciprocate the bridging contacts, to positions of engagement with the respective pairs of stationary contacts, upon rotation of the handle through said range of movement, and to retain the bridging contacts in said positions only, and upon releasing the handle at said positions; and means rendering the cam follower and cam relatively rotatively shiftable, to dispose the cam follower in engagement with either of said first and second cam surface portions, selectively.

7. In a selector switch, a switch housing supporting spaced apart pairs of stationary contacts, and movable bridging contacts therebetween; a handle rotatable back and forth with a range of movement, between two extreme positions and through an intermediate position; a cam follower connected to the handle and rotatable therewith; a cam connected to the movable bridging contacts; the cam having a circular cam surface engaged by the cam follower; means to restrain the cam against rotary movement; spring means to hold the cam in engagement with the cam follower; and yieldable to permit axial movement of the cam to reciprocate the movable contacts connected thereto; means to restrain the cam follower from being moved axially by the force of the spring; the cam surface having a portion formed to reciprocate the bridging contacts to positions of engagement with the respective pairs of stationary contacts upon rotation of the handle through said range of movement, and the cam surface formed to retain the bridging contacts in either of said two positions upon releasing the handle at said positions.

8. The switch described in claim 1, and in which the cam follower is adjustably mounted on the bottom of the cup form extension, by means constructed to permit it to be selectively manually shifted to either of two positions rotatively angularly at 90 apart.

9. The switch described in claim 2, and in which the cam follower is `adjustably mounted on the bottom of the cup form extension, by means constructed to permit it to be selectively manually shifted to either of two positions rotatively angularly at 90 apart.

10. The switch described in claim 3, and in which the cam follower is adjustably mounted on the bottom of the cup form extension, by means constructed to permit it to be selectively manually shifted to either of two positions rotatively angularly at 90 apart.

11. The switch described in claim 4, and in which the cam follower is adjustably mounted on the bottom of the cup form extension, by means constructed to permit it to be selectively manually shifted to either of two positions rotatively angularly at 90 apart.

12. The switch described in claim 5, and in which the cam follower is adjustably connected to the handle by means constructed to permit it to be selectively manually shifted to either of two positions angularly spaced apart 90 around the axis of rotation of the handle.

13. The switch described in claim 6, and in which the cam follower is adjustably connected to the handle by means constructed to permit it to be selectively manually shifted to either of two positions angularly spaced apart 90 around the axis of rotation of the handle.

14. The switch described in claim 7, and in which the cam follower is adjustably connected to the handle by means constructed to permit it to be selectively manually shifted to either of two positions angularly spaced apart around the axis of rotation of the handle.

15. In a selector switch, a housing supporting spaced stationary contacts and a reciprocable movable contact selectively engageable therewith; a generally circular cam connected to the movable contacts and axially reciprocable therewith; an axially stationary rotary cam follower engaged with the cam; a handle connected to the cam follower for rotating it in alternate directions; a spring holding the cam in engagement with the cam follower; the cam having a cam surface which causes it to be reciprocated, to reciprocate the movable contacts upon rotation of the cam follower by the handle, and having stops for the cam follower to maintain the movable contacts in selective reciprocated positions; the cam follower being an element separate from the handle, and the handle having associated therewith `a pair of recesses disposed angularly around the rotational axis substantially 90 apart; and the cam follower being connectable to the handle as aforesaid by being manually lodged in either of the recesses selectively.

16. In a switch construction, a switch housing provided with an externally and internally threaded tubular housing extension; notches in the end of the tubular extension substantially 90 apart angularly; a mounting ring having an externally threaded tubular extension for inserting through an opening in a supporting panel with the ring overlapping the front of the panel; and for screwing into the housing extension when disposed on the back side of the panel; a nut on the external threads of the housing extension, and on the back side of the panel; a sheet material apron on the front of the panel having a. perforation surrounding the threads of the ring extension; a projection on the apron projecting into a perforation in the panel to rotatively position the apron; a second projection on the apron projecting through the panel and into a selected one of the notches of the housing extension; the apron and panel being clamped between the ring and nut to mount the housing on the panel.

WILLIAM C. TREGONING.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Robbins Sept. 12, 1944 Number 

